Lubricating device.



H. W. L. FOX.

LUBRICATING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED use. 8, 1914.

Patented Dec.28,1915.

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HENRY W. L. FOX, 0]? BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LUBRICATING- DEVICE.

Application filed December 8, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. L. Fox, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, county of Suffolk, Commonwealth I invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lubricating evices, of which the following is a' specification.

This invention relates to lubricating devices and particularly to a. friction-applied lubricating device.

My invention is especially designed for use in connection with a vibratory body wherein the application of the'lubricant is dependent upon the vibrations of the it is vibrating and therefore prevent a needless lubricating of the body when it is not in use. This is etlected in the present invention by the use of a saturable seal member for the feed open ing of a lubricant container in combination with a vibratory body against which the seal bears. The vibrations of the body to be lubricated act to compress the saturated sealing member on its seat, thus effecting atransfer of the lubricant to the vibratory body along which it travels to all parts thereof by capillary attraction.

My invention is obviously capable of use with numerous vibratory bodies, but for the purposes of the patent I have shown it in its application to the shock absorption springs of an automobile where it is espe cially useful. It should be understood, however, that this is simply an illustrative emodiment of the principles of my invention and is not intended to limit the device to this use.

The construction and operation of my in vention will be more fully disclosed in the specification which follows.

In the drawings forming a part of that specification I have shown a lubricator which not only clearly illustrates the principies involved but is in itself a forni found satisfactory in use. I

Throughout specification and drawings, like reference numerals are correspondingly applied, and in these drawings: Figure 1 is an elevation oi a lubricator in accordance with my invention showing its application to the shock absorption springs of an automobile, the springs being shown in section, and Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof."

Specification of Letters Patent.

of the clamp upon though obviously through which the oil can readily perme-' Patented Dec. 28, 1915. Serial No. 876,072.

The device of my present invention consists essentially of a clamping member hav ing a lubricant container and a ,saturable sealing member for the delivery opening of said container disposed in contact with the vibratory body to be lubricated. In the form of my invention selected as an illustrative embodiment I have shown the clamping member as consisting of a single casting having a gravity feed oil well cored therein and the saturable member as a simple pad loosely seated over the delivery opening of the oil well and in contact with e leaves of an automobile spring held in said clamp.

I have'indicated at l the horizontal base which are seated the superimposed leaves 2 of a spring which is clamped therein by one or more screws 3 set up in a lateral flange 4 formed on one edge of the base 1. The opposite edge of l extend" as a vertical wall 5 terminating in a horizontal wall 6 partially overlying the ass 1.

The vertical wall 5 has a gravity feed oil well 7 cored therein. The oil well 7 has a lateral delivery opening 8 through the wall 5 and preferably centrally thereof. The filling opening of the oil by a. pivoted swing cover 9.

The delivery opening closed by a seal 10 an internal rib 11 on the wall 5 by the leaves compressibly held against and a shoulder 12 formed adjacent the portions 1 and 6 of the spring. preferably of a size .to wholly cover the. innerface of the wall .5 with its upper edge bearing against the bottom face of the overhanging wall 6. The seal is of a readily saturable compressible material which acts as a swal-rto apply the lubricant to the leaves of the spring under the compressive action thereof due to their vibration. I find felt or similar absorbent and compressible material well adapted for tl any compressible material ate may be used.' The rib 11 and shoulder 12assist in holding the pad 10 to its seat over the opening 8.

In use, the leaves clamped within the holder with the lowerthe rib 11 by the set screws 3. The leaves press the seal 10 tightly to its seat over the delivery opening of the oil well. The oil feeds by gravwell is closed 8 of the oil well is The seal is the base 11s purpose, al-

the leaves,

a are is compressed and the lubricant absorbed thereby is filmed out onto those parts of the leaves in contact with the pad and is transferred by capillary attraction to all parts or- 1 1' he spring is therefore not only self lubricating but is lubricated only when it is in use, thus effecting a saving in the lubricant and at the same time maintaining the springs sulliciently lubricated. The pad acts as a seal for the oil well. as Well as a transfer medium for applying the lubricant to a'relatively large part of the leaves.

The device of my present invention may obviously be used with a largeraiige or vibratory' bodiesand the lubricant container does not IIGCBSSfilllY need to be an inte ral part of the clamp.'

These and various other modifications in the form and construction of my device may obviously be resorted to within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A lubricator for a multi-ply leaf spring comprising a reservoir having a transverse delivery area adapted to overlap the interstices between the plies of said spring and a clamp disposed for engagement with one ply only.

2. A lubricator for a multi-ply leaf spring comprising a reservoir having a transverse delivery area adapted to overlap the intersticesbetvveen the plies of said spring and a. clamp disposed for engagement with one ply only whereby said leaves are left free to move relatively to each other. i i

3. In a. lubricating device of the class dc scribed, a clamp comprising a base having a lateral flange at one edge and a Wall at its opposite edge, a lubricantcontainer associated with said wall and having a delivery opening through said wall, a saturable sealing member for said delivery opening having a seat against said wall, a vibratory body to be lubricated in compressive contact with said sealing member, and means in said lateral flange engaging said bod 4. In a lubricating device of the class described, a cl amp comprising a base having a wall at one edge, a lubricant container cored in said wall and having a delivery opening through said will, asaturable sealing member for said delivery opening having a seat against said wall, a vibratory body to EBA-O2 be lubricated in compressive contact with said sealing member, and a rib on said well no 1' said base under which said vibratory body is engaged.

A lubricator for a inulti-ply leaf spring comprising a support, a permeable pad on said support and disposed to overlap the interstices between the plies of said spring, and a rcsevoir having a delivery to said pad, and clamp disposed for engagement with one, ply only. .i

6. A. lubricator for a multiply leaf spring comprising a reservoir having a tansversc delivery area adapted to overlap the interstices between the pines oi said spring and a support having engagement with one ply only whereby said plies are left free to move relatively to each other.

7. A device tor use with a multiply leaf spring, comprising a member having such engagement with said plies as to permit free movement thereof relative to each other, and means influenced by the movement of said plies for distributinga lubricant between the interstiws of said plies.

8. A device for use with a multi-ply leaf spring, comprising a reservoir for a lubrirant having a delivery to the spring, a transfer element el'l'cct'vely disposed relative to said delivery and in lubricant distributing relation to the interstices between said plies, and a clamp permitting free movement of the plies relative to-each other to compress said pad and effect a distribution of the lubricant content thereof.

A device for use with. a multi-ply leai spring comprising a support having engagement with one ply only and permitting free relative movement of said plies, and reservoir fdr a-lubricant having a delivery area to all of said plies.

10. A device for use with a multi-ply leaf spring comprising a support having an engagement with said spring permitting free relative movement of the plies thereof, a reservoir for a lubricant having a delivery and a transfer elen'ient eilectively disposed relative to said delivery and in surface contact with said pliesf In estimony whereof Ti ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses;

sinner W. L. r tu l.

Witnesses:

VICTORIA Lownn'n,

lvlAuroN G. Hones. 

